National military news
USS America, USS New Orleans to forward deploy to Japan; USS Stethem, USS Wasp to return to U.S.
SASEBO, Japan - The Navy announced recently that amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) and landing platform dock USS New Orleans (LPD 18) will become part of the U.S. 7th Fleet forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) in Sasebo, Japan. Guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) will shift its homeport to San Diego for its midlife modernization and amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) will shift its homeport to Norfolk to undergo scheduled maintenance.
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Family PCS travel flexibility
expanded
From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy has expanded the eligible categories for advanced dependent travel (ADT) and delayed dependent travel (DDT), personnel officials announced in September.
For permanent change of station (PCS) moves within the 50 states, the policy allows for dependent travel of up to six months before or after the sponsoring Sailor’s PCS move in the following situations: spousal employment or education, dependents in elementary or secondary school (K-12), dependent enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program, or caring for an immediate family member with a chronic or long-term illness. The previous approved policy that allowed DDT for the length of the school year is unchanged by this expansion.
For moves from the 50 states to overseas locations, only DDT will be authorized. For moves from overseas locations to the 50 states, only ADT will be authorized.
Sailors will only receive one housing allowance, either for their location or their dependent’s location, under delayed or advance travel. Sailors or dependents may be assigned government quarters if available, but may not displace a member or dependent in government housing.
Requests for DDT or ADT must be submitted to Navy Personnel Command (PERS-451).
For information and answers to questions on this policy, email NXAG_N130C@navy.mil.



SoCal military news
SWRMC supports Boxer Amphibious Ready Group deployment
5/15/2019
From SWRMC Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Sailors and civilians from Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) worked to support the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) as they prepared to depart for a regularly scheduled deployment on May 1.
“We are an empowered team that strives to provide the best support to the Fleet in San Diego, and to be an organization the Navy can depend on,” said Capt. David Hart, SWRMC’s commanding officer. “Practicing the ideas and concepts behind the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Campaign Plan to Expand the Advantage allows us to focus our actions to support our customers and the mission.”
The ARG, comprised of USS Boxer (LHD 4), USS John P Murtha (LPD 26) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), departed Casualty Report (CASREP) free. A CASREP is used to notify the chain of command and readiness stakeholders of degradation to operational readiness of the ship. Deficiencies in an activity's material condition typically results in in a CASREP, which alerts support activities to the nature of the outside assistance required for correction.
The objective to deploy ships CASREP free is a charge that comes directly from Commander, Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Vice Adm. Richard Brown.
To meet this charge from Vice Adm. Brown, the ARG focused their efforts on achieving a CASREP-free deployment in October 2018 with bi-monthly maintenance meetings. In this forum, all CASREPs and other maintenance requirements were discussed, and the path forward to make corrective actions was addressed.
“We set a schedule and held ARG CASREP meetings to focus more on doing a little work all the time to meet Vice Admiral Brown’s philosophy,” explained Gene Atienza, SWRMC’s Waterfront Operations Project Manager for Harpers Ferry. “This meant repairing CASREP items in planned continuous maintenance availabilities (CMAVS) and in unplanned EMs (Emergent Avails) once the ARG ships completed their scheduled Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) availabilities.”
In addition to ARG CASREP meetings, Capt. Hart led deploying-ship briefs to discuss all maintenance topics, depot-level repairs, and CASREPS.
“All SWRMC departments, including quality control, contracts, engineering, production, and waterfront operations supported the Boxer ARG, making it possible for them to reach CASREP free status,” said Thomas Parker, the assigned Type Commander (TYCOM) Port Engineer for Boxer. “SWRMC’s Engineering Department immediately provided technical assistance whenever it was requested from the Maintenance Team.”
This team effort included work performed on short notice by SWRMC’s divers to support the Boxer ARG’s deployment – including work supporting critical repairs.
SWRMC is meeting its mission to provide superior ship maintenance, modernization, technical support, and training for the Pacific Fleet.


SAN DIEGO (April 19, 2019) The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18) sails through San Diego Bay in transit to the ship's Naval Base San Diego homeport, successfully completing the ship's maiden voyage from the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. Charleston is the ninth ship in the littoral combat ship Independence-variant class and is the eleventh LCS to be homeported in San Diego. U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Woody S. Paschall

Navy's newest littoral combat ship USS Charleston arrives in San Diego
4/22/2019
by Lt.j.g. Jasmine Spencer, Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron ONE Public Affairs
San Diego (NNS) -- The newest littoral combat ship, the Independence-variant USS Charleston (LCS 18), arrived at its San Diego homeport April 19 after completing its maiden voyage from the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.
Prior to arriving in San Diego, Charleston officially joined the fleet March 2 when it was commissioned in Charleston, South Carolina. During the sail-around, the ship made port calls to Mayport, Florida; Little Creek, Virginia; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and Mazatlan, Mexico. The ship also completed a successful transit through the Panama Canal.
“I’m proud to say that the crew did a phenomenal job during Charleston’s maiden voyage, working many long hours to execute the voyage safely,” Cmdr. Christopher K. Brusca, Charleston’s commanding officer, said. “To get Charleston ready for delivery, we’ve been away from our families for nine months, but during that time, the crew maintained an infectious positivity throughout every aspect of bringing this ship to the fleet.”
The ship falls under Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One (COMLCSRON ONE) control until the future LCS Mine Countermeasures Division is established on the West Coast.
“Charleston is a first-class ship with a first-class crew,” Capt. Matthew McGonigle, commander, COMLCSRON ONE, said. “With Charleston’s arrival, we now have 11 littoral combat ships homeported in San Diego and we couldn’t be more proud of the hard work and positivity our LCS crews continue to demonstrate every single day.”
LCSs are high-speed, agile, shallow-draft, mission-focused surface combatants designed for operations in the littoral environment, yet fully capable of open ocean operations. As part of the surface fleet, LCSs have the ability to counter and outpace evolving threats independently or within a network of surface combatants. Paired with advanced sonar and mine-hunting capabilities, LCSs provide a major contribution, as well as a more diverse set of options to commanders across the spectrum of operations.






United Through Reading®
Deploying? Service members invited to record stories for family at San Diego USO
United Through Reading® is a program helping ease the stress of separation for military families by having deploying or deployed service members read children’s books aloud via DVD for their family to watch at home. This powerful program is available to all military units. It provides service members a chance to make lasting connections from afar. The DVD recording and the book are mailed to the child and family back home.
Service members who are leaving for training can also take part in this program. Being a parent is not required; service members can send the DVD & book(s) to any special child in their life such as younger sister or brother, niece, nephew or godchild.
On the day of the recording, service members are encouraged to dress in the attire they will be wearing while deployed/training, but this is not required. The room is private, so any special message, or those fun reading voices, will only be heard by the recipient of the DVD recording. USO San Diego has books available, or service members can bring their own. Our volunteers will help set up the camera and then leave the room. The DVD can hold a 30 minute recording.
Please e-mail USO San Diego Staff Member Nichole Duarte at utr@usosandiego.org to make your appointment. This program is offered at both USO San Diego centers.